Diaspora
Buying property in Senegal from the diaspora
Buying in Dakar or Saly from France, Italy or the United States: power of attorney, remote checks, costs to plan for and pitfalls to avoid when you are far away.
By Jamm Immobilier · 24 June 2026
The Senegalese diaspora is one of the leading drivers of the property market: buying a plot of land, an apartment in Dakar or a villa in Saly from France, Italy, the United States or the Gulf is a common project. But buying remotely calls for particular precautions.
The power of attorney: buying without being on site
You do not need to be physically in Senegal at every stage. A trusted representative — a relative, or an agency such as Jamm — can, through a power of attorney, visit the property, negotiate, verify the title and carry out the formalities on your behalf. The notary remains mandatory to finalise and secure the sale.
Checking remotely, without being trapped
Distance is exactly what scammers exploit. The essential reflexes:
- Insist on the land title and have it verified at the Land Registry (registered owner, surface area, absence of any dispute or mortgage).
- Check the seller’s identity and that it matches the title.
- Ask for dated proof: recent photos and videos, and ideally a visit by a trusted third party.
- Never pay any money before these checks — and favour traceable channels.
Our guide on land security covers these points in detail.
The real budget: price + costs
From abroad, think in terms of total budget, not just price. Count on roughly 7–12% of the price in acquisition costs (registration tax, land registration, notary, VAT) — detailed in our acquisition costs guide — to which you should add money-transfer fees and, where applicable, the fee for a representative.
Where to buy?
- Dakar (Almadies, Ngor, Mermoz, Sacré-Cœur) for rental value and centrality.
- Saly / Mbour (Petite Côte) for a second home and tourism.
- Always favouring a property under a land title.
Jamm’s support
For the diaspora, Jamm offers end-to-end support: a selection of verified properties, remote visits and reports, title verification, and coordination with the notary — in your language (the site is available in six languages). Start by framing your budget with the tool below.
This article is informational and does not replace the advice of a notary.